Collapsible invalid walkers



Nov. 15, 1960 c. E. MURCOTT 2,960,148

COLLAPSIBLE INVALID WALKERS Filed Oct. 28, 1958 INVENTOR.

0/14/1255 f. Ml/RCOTT BY ATTORNEY United btates fatent COLLAPSIBLE INVALID WALKERS Charles E. Murcott,'134 Cabot Road, Massapequa, N.Y. Filed Oct. 28, 1958, Ser. No. 770,034

Claims. (Cl. 155-22) This invention relates to what are generally referred to as invalid walkers. More particularly, the invention deals with a device of this type and kind made of collapsible related parts, so that the entire device can be reduced to a relatively thin contour, facilitating packaging for shipment and also facilitating storage of the device when not in use.

Still more particularly, the invention deals with a device of the character described employing two U-shaped tubular frames pivotally coupled with two pairs of side leg members, with a bracing and lock frame consisting of telescoping rods pivotally coupled with each pair of leg members.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

'Fig. l is a side view of a walker made according to my invention, with part of the construction broken away and in section.

Fig. 2 is a view, similar to Fig. 1, showing the parts in collapsed position, with parts of the construction broken away and with parts omitted; and

Fig. 3 is a reduced plan view of the device as seen in Fig. 1, showing only one side thereof and with part of the background shown broken away.

My improved walker comprises an upper U-shaped and horizontally disposed tubular frame and a lower, inclined and greater area U-shaped tubular frame 11. Pivoted to outer sides of the frames 10 and 11 are pairs of front and rear leg members 12 and 13, only one pair being illustrated in the accompanying drawing, it being understood that the opposed side of the device includes a similar pair. Adjustably coupled with the lower ends of leg members are tubular foot sleeves 14, both of which are of similar construction, the lower ends of these sleeves having rubber or other cushioning cup-shaped feet 15. Each sleeve 14 has vertically spaced apertures 16, as noted on the leg member 13, adapted to receive a spring-pressed pin 17 for locking the sleeves 14 in different adjusted positions. In the present showing, the sleeves 14 are in their lowest position on the leg members, thus providing the greatest height to the complete device.

The frame 10 is pivoted to the upper end of the leg members 12 and 13 by pivot bolts, as at 18 and 19, suitable washers or spacers being employed to maintain the leg members in spaced relation to the frame. This is also true of the pivot bolts 20 and 21 which pivotally couple the frame 11 with the leg members 12 and 13 in the position as noted in Fig. l of the drawing with the frame 11 extending in an upwardly inclined position.

Also pivotally mounted on the bolts 19 and 20 and arranged outwardly of the leg members 12 and 13 are telescoping brace and lock tubes or elements 22 and 23, respectively, the tube 22 being arranged on the pivot 19 and the tube 23 arranged on the pivot 20, as clearly noted. A spring-pressed pin 24 is supported in the tube 23 and engages an aperture in the tube 22 in locking the tubes 22 and 23 in their operative bracing position, as noted in Fig. 1 of the drawing. Arranged on the side members of the frame 10 between the pivots l8 and 19 are rubber or other suitable handgn'p portions 25, upon which the hands of the user of the walker are placed in moving the walker from place to place.

It will appear, from a consideration of Fig. 3 of the drawing, that the crosshead 11 of the U-shaped frame 11 extends outwardly beyond the crosshead 10 of the frame 10. This is to provide ample space for positioning of the legs of the user within the device when the same is in use.

By pressing inwardly upon the spring-pressed pins 24, the tubes 22 and 23 can be collapsed and the entire walker collapsed into the position diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing, with the legs 12 and 13disposed substantially in parallel relationship to each other; thus producing a relatively thin dimension of the walker when in collapsed state, which will enable storage of several of the walkers in a place which would normally be occuplied by a single walker. This collapsing feature further simplifies the packaging and shipment of the walker by materially reducing the size of the thickness of the carton or other container in which the walker is packed for shipment.

By constructing the various tubular frame parts of the walker of aluminum, the entire walker will be relatively light in weight, thus facilitating the use thereof by the invalid.

It will be noted that the ends of the respective tubes are closed by suitable plugs, the heads of which are indicated at 26 in Fig. l of the drawing.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A collapsible walker of the character described, cornprising a U-shaped upper frame, a U-shap-ed lower frame, two pairs of leg members, means pivoting the leg members of each pair directly to sides of said upper and lower frames to dispose the leg members in each pair in diverging relationship when the walker is in operative position, said pivot means disposing the upper frame in substantially horizontal position and the lower frame in an inclined position when the walker is in operative position, and means comprising pairs of telescoping elements pivotally mounted in connection with the leg members in each pair for positively retaining the walker in operative position while facilitating collapsing of the walker with the leg members assuming a position substantially parallel to each other.

2. A walker as defined in claim 1, wherein the lower ends of all of the leg members include means telescoped therewith for varying the height of the resulting walker.

3. A walker as defined in claim 1, wherein the side members of the upper frame include, between the pivots of the leg members therewith, handgrip portions.

4. A walker as defined in claim 1, wherein said U- shaped frames are tubular in construction and wherein the lower frame is of greater area than the upper frame.

5. A walker as defined in claim 1, wherein the telescoping elements in each pair include interengaging means definitely retaining the elements in operative locked and bracing position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,430,235 Mendenhall Nov. 4, 1947 2,580,888 Burkett Jan. 1, 1952 2,656,874 Robb Oct. 27, 1953 2,738,830 Black Mar. 20, 1956 2,776,701 Denis Ian. 8, 1957 2,855,024 Robb Oct. 7, 1958 

